The Settlement Historic District · Photo: Jim Evans · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Texas City faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texas City gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #303 of 642 in Texas State. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (55%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 2,751 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Texas City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Texas City faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Texas City’s grade
Hurricanes are 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Texas City, and Texas City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 38% (lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #303 of 642 in Texas State; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Texas City’s residents live in 17 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Texas State town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Texas City has less expected damage per building than 53% of Texas State towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.1M a year in losses across Texas City: $8.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Texas City flood? Yes: 2,751 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Texas City, from FEMA’s records: 116.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Harvey414 claims · $26.0M
- Hurricane Alicia289 claims · $1.4M
- Tropical Storm Allison239 claims · $3.1M
Texas City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Galveston County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Texas City
Disasters that paid out in Texas City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Texas City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Beryl7,279 households applied for aid$6.1M aid approved$1.2M to the City of Texas City for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Winter Storms1,678 households applied for aid$606K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Harvey7,249 households applied for aid$9.0M aid approved$789K to the City of Texas City for repairs414 flood claims paid for it, $26.0M
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$7K aid approved14 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Hurricane Ike8,428 households applied for aid$3.6M aid approved$8.0M to the City of Texas City for repairs121 flood claims paid for it, $5.6M
- 2005Hurricane Rita8,280 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$92K to the City of Texas City for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Hurricane Rita$22K to the City of Texas City for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Claudette40 households applied for aid$52K aid approved30 flood claims paid for it, $257K
- 2001Tx-tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001$16K to the City of Texas City for repairs239 flood claims paid for it, $3.1M
Galveston County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Texas City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Texas City archive →Texas City and its neighbors
Texas City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas City | B−less damage than 53% | hurricanes | 2,751 |
| Bacliff | C+more damage than 60% | hurricanes | 44 |
| San Leon | C+more damage than 62% | hurricanes | 1,705 |
| La Marque | C+more damage than 62% | hurricanes | 1,281 |
| Galveston | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 14,754 |
| League City | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4,320 |
| Dickinson | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2,390 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Texas City faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Texas City
Is Texas City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Texas City has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #303 of 642 in Texas State. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (55%) and river and rain flooding (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Texas City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,751 claims in Texas City since 1978, $47.3M in all, or 116.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 311 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Harvey (414).
Is Texas City in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Galveston County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 42.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Texas City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Texas City’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Texas City?
By FEMA money that reached Texas City, Hurricane Ike (2008): 8,428 households applied for aid, $3.6M approved, and $8.0M to the City of Texas City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Harvey: 414 paid, $26.0M.
Is Texas City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Texas City’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Texas City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Texas City’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.